More and more elected officials are putting pressure on the United States Army to rename two streets named for Confederate generals in Brooklyn’s Fort Hamilton. It’s time we stop glossing over the nasty parts of our country’s history to present all sides and arguments as equal.

Nobody learns a nuanced history from a street sign. Sure, it can be a gateway into learning about the history of the individual being honored, but it doesn’t present any sort of insight into an individual’s history.

It’s silly to think that bronze busts of men in public places are what’s educating our children.

The argument of free speech is correct, but shouldn’t apply to public property in this case. If a private individual wants to erect a monument to Lee or the Queen of England on their property, that is their individual right (as long as it meets zoning laws!). And you can fly any flag you want proudly.

But for the taxpayers of any given municipality to be forced to pay to maintain a whitewashing of history? Well, that’s just absurd.

There’s also a false equivalency going around comparing Lee to other great American founders like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The latter two never rebelled against the country of course, but it’s also important to note the slave-owning history of all leaders.

Just like New York City is doing on city-owned property, we need a state and federal review of all monuments. If you’re going to leave up a statue of a Confederate general, it needs a significant amount of accompanying information to provide historical context.